News

News and Resources - Fall 2019

Connecting - Get Ready for the Winter Launch of MN GreenStep Schools!

Get Engaged

Have you signed up to express your interest in Minnesota GreenStep Schools? This is the first step to getting engaged and helps us track who is interested as we plan next steps to build the program.

Express your interest and Sign up for updates on the MN GreenStep Schools Interest Form HERE

School and Environment Organizations Expressing Support

University of Minnesota Minnesota Design Center and Institute on the Environment have been working with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Education, and the Minnesota Departments of Health and Commerce, as well as Youth Eco Solutions (YES!) to further build the Minnesota GreenStep Program. This work happens within a networked community of leaders interested in green schools. We are pleased to have support for the program expressed by many organizations - read more here.

MN Green Ribbon Schools Application forms available for 2019-2020

The Green Ribbon Schools Award application for Minnesota available now.

See the website for application information, and note these dates from the schools application:

"Application deadline is January 10, 2020. Please send an optional intent to apply message to John Olson (john.c.olson@state.mn.us) once you determine you will apply, preferably by December 16, 2019 or as early as possible, so that we may support you in the application process and plan for the review of the applications."

MN GreenStep Schools was designed for strong integration with Minnesota Green Ribbon Schools and both are complementary ways to advance the environmental, health, and environmental education goals of schools. Green Ribbon recognizes a few leading schools for excellence which inspires and sets an example for other schools to emulate. MN GreenStep Schools provides a challenge, assistance, and recognition framework for greening for schools from beginners to advanced. Minnesota Green Ribbon Schools is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Education, a supporter of the MN GreenStep Schools development effort.

Coming Soon: Solar on Schools Map Dashboard

This winter MN GreenStep Schools will release a prototype of an interactive map dashboard of solar on schools. Visitors to the dashboard will be able to search for schools with solar installations by school district, education level, educational program integration, utility, installer, mounting type, funding type, and year installed. This will help schools share their successes to inspire and educate others on what is possible.

The data for the solar on schools map dashboard came from several different agencies and organizations, with special assistance from the Department of Commerce, and is NOT YET COMPLETE. That's where you come in: whether you are at a school with solar, an installer, or a utility, you can help get all the Minnesota schools with solar on the map with complete information. Once the prototype is released, there will be a form to submit your school's solar data or add to a listing that is already on the map.

The solar on schools map dashboard is a resource for schools participating in MN GreenStep schools. Schools with solar that join the MN GreenStep Schools program when it launches this winter, will be able to earn a best practice credit if they enhance their school's solar data with documentation that tells the story of how they did it and lessons learned.

If you want to be notified when the map dashboard goes online, put your name in the MN GreenStep Schools Interest Form and put a comment in the notes about receiving information on the "solar on schools map dashboard."

Other Resources to Track

Healthy Schools

Minnesota Department of Health has supported development of MN GreenStep Schools. One area the department addresses is "Safe Routes to School." Here are some of the benefits listed from their WEBSITE.

Safe Routes to School can:

Reduce the risk of pedestrian injury by 44 percent.³
Help build desirable communities by making it easier and safer for families and neighbors to walk and bike to school together.⁴
Bring more resources to Greater Minnesota communities. In 2015, three out of four Safe Routes to School state-funded infrastructure grants were awarded to communities in Greater Minnesota.²
Get kids more active. Students who start walking or biking to school benefit from 47 more minutes of physical activity per week.⁵
Help reduce vehicle congestion & improve air quality around schools.^6,7
Traffic related air pollution increases a child's risk of developing asthma.⁸

Environment & Equity

The work to equitably provide the benefits of green schools - economic, environmental, health, and education - is a value of the MN GreenStep Schools Program and part of its ongoing efforts. That is one reason why we seek broad involvement in the program and its planning. The other reason, is that broad involvement will help make the program better by including a range of perspectives from different communities and experiences.

Here's a resource of interest at the intersection of environment and equity: MPCA's Environmental Justice Framework LINK

This document has principles that MN GreenStep Schools draws from in its planning for equity and inclusion.

An interesting resource for schools and communities around the state is a story map associated with this work. "Understanding Environmental Justice in Minnesota." LINK

The use of GIS maps and spatial data to look for patterns and find information relevant to one's own community is a powerful tool. That's why MN GreenStep Schools will use GIS to analyze and plan for equitable engagement in the program. We will be able to map what communities are being served, what environmental, health, and environmental education resources are being utilized or needed, and respond to those needs and opportunities.

Environmental Education

SEEK at Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (MAEE)

SEEK (Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge) is one of the environmental education resources recommended by MN GreenStep Schools. It is operated by Minnesota Association for Environmental Education, an organization expressing support for MN GreenStep Schools and we look forward to exploring collaborative opportunities together. At SEEK you can find environmental education resources, a calendar of events, a history of EE in Minnesota, and more. LINK

Place-based, Hands-on Environmental Education? ...YES!

One of the great opportunities of MN GreenStep Schools is for engaging students with their school by integrating environmental education with the other aspects of school greening such as strategies for environmental and economic savings as well as health initiatives.

This is one reason why we are partnering with Youth Eco Solutions (YES!) in planning pilot projects for the MN GreenStep Schools program. They've been engaging youth in learning about the environment through hands-on education that improves the environmental performance of their schools for many years. LINK